Locking device for weighing-scales



E. G. THOMAS.

LOCKSNG DEVICE FOR wwmms SCALES.

I APPLICATION FILED OCT-131MH- 1,386,662, I Patented Aug. 9, 1921,.

2 SHEETS-SHE l.

E. G. THOMAS.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR WEIGHIN'G SCALES. APPLICATION FILED ocT. :3, 1917.

1,386,662. Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIG, 6

Edward 6. Thomas.

N ED: ATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD o. 'rnoimsfor"romnofoirro, sssr'eivon'ro TOLEDO SCALE COMPANY or 'ronnno, vomo, ACORPORA'IION'VOF'NVEWJERSEY.

Locxme DEVICE ron wmenme-scanns.

T 0 all whom it may concern? Be it knownthat L 'EDWA Rl) G. THOMAS, Weititenhfthe United States, residin at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and tate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful yImprovements in Looking Devices for Weighing-Scales, of which the followingis a specification. Y I

dicating whether or not a weighing scale is in a "level position or beyond a certain degree out of level position in order that there will be pointed out the need forits adjustment should it bebeyond an allowable degree out'oflevel, I The majority of States and towns have ordinances and regulations providing for the degree of'accuracyof weighing scales which may be used in the-territory! covered by such laws and providing for c. penalties for the use of scales-whichdo inotweigh Y within the tolerances which the regulations provide, the enforcementofthese laws being iven to a body of inspectors whose duty it is to examinethe'soales and note whether they-act withinfthe rescribed standard. In order'not? to incurt e financial penalties which will arise from' the use of inaccurate scales, as well as togive honest weight in their transactions, the users'ofscales must use all possible precautions to insure i the accuracyof their weighing 1 devices. The

makers of scales on theirtpartare prepared to furnish to the general public scales which will wei h withinvery narrow limitsof ac curacy, i ut it is requisite ithat the scales while in use shall be-maintained in the positiondfor which they were originally adjusted Since, -howerver, the position of the scale depends upon the solidity of-xthe counter or table upon which it is-zplaced, it

i is obvious" that the scale may he? accidentally thrown out of level'by'the warpingor other change inzshape of -1ts support,or 'bythe temporary bending ofth'e counter ortable through the depositing 'upon' it 10f heavy wei hts of material, c

weigh for disp y'ing the'indmatdrtotheciistomer e urpose ofmy invention istofurnish an 'in i'cation' of "an out=of-lewel (position which shall rforeibly attract tlie'rrye and be located in a prominent position, thus "effectively notifyingithe user-of the scale that the scale :is; not in condition for accurate in 'Provisinamay also, be -niade Specification of Letters Patent.

, p c of This inventi" n relates to'devi'cw, for inofa inodifiedform of the apparatus.

'weight oflsettin'g device. A weighted mem Patented Aug. 9,1921.

lp'plication filed October 13,1917. "Serial No. 196,515.

as well as to the user topermit a check on any dealer who mi ht desiretouse the scale when not in position forhonest Weighings.

With the above objects in view, which will readily appear from the following description, my invention consists of the novel construction, combination and f arrangement parts -more fully described in the following specification and set forth in the subjoined claims. we

Referring" to the drawings, which portray an illustrativeform of my invention "and whereinsimilar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several v1ews: a ,7 I

Figure 1 is a front'elevation of a wellknown-type of -scale in which a portion of the casing has beenbroken away to show parts embodying my invention;

FigJQisa detail View ofthat portion of the casingwhichcontains my device, illuse trating the relative :position of the apparatus when the scale has been tipped;

Fig. 3 is -,a perspective view of iparts of the apparatus entering into the construct1on shown in Figs. land 2 but ona larger scale;

'Fig. 4 is a perspective viewofa portion of the-apparatuswhich has. been modified to permit thescale to'be tipped at a greater angle in, one direction than at :right angles thereto before the apparatus locks the scale;

i-g; 5;is aside view of the scale illustrated in;F ig. I and l F1g."-6 ISh'SldG view impartial section V Referring-to the drawings, 1' designates a typical counter weighing scale, and as herein shown, employs a pendulum as its her 2 is pivotally supported so as to be capable of free movement in all vertical "planeson abracket 3 attached to the easing 4 0f the scale. In'order tosreadily secure'the pivotal action desired the weighted member 2 is provided wit-ha conical pivot 5 -ivhichre'stsin a depression 6 'in'bracket 3. Aiplate7 having acircular opening 8 therein {is secured to the weightedmember at a relatively-long distance above its point of supportcompared with the distance of the a center of. gravity of the weighted portion of thisamemberfbelowgthe point of su port, the attachment of *theiplateto "this "weighted member being by me'ans of cylindrical cup having an internal diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the opening 8. Attached to the scale beam 10 of the scale 1 is a depending member 11 having at its lower end a circular plate 12 smaller in diameter than the opening 8. The relative location of parts just described is such that when the scale is absolutely level the center of plate 12 coincides with the center of opening 8 in plate 7 so that plate 12 will freely move up and down through opening 8 as the scale beam is'loadcd or unloaded, and will not touch plate 7 at any point. At this time the scale, being in a proper position, will be free for use and will register accurate weights if otherwise suitably adjusted.

ri hen any change in the position of the scale occurs plate 12 will be moved from its previous position in the center of opening 8 since opening 8 will remain in the same position as before because of the plnmb-bob-like character 01 the weighted member 2, and should the change of posi tion of the scale 1 be sufliciently great, the edge of plate 12 will be moved over the edge of opening 8. In this position plate 7 will prevent plate 12 from moving clownward, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and the scale will thus be so locked that it cannot be used at all for a weighing operation. By releveling the scale, plate 12 will be restored to its position over the center of opening 8 and the scale will then be free for use, as desired.

Inasmuch as a slight change of level in the position of the scale may not result in an error in its weighing sufiiciently great to cause it to exceed the tolerance permitted, the opening 8 in plate 7 is made slightly larger in diameter than is plate 12, so that the engagement of plate 12 with the side of opening 8 will occur only after a change of level suiiicient to cause the error in weighing due to it to approach or exceed the permitted tolerance. A change of level in one direction may not cause the same error in the weighing as will a change of level of the same amount in a direction at right angles to the first, and in general with pen dulum scales a change of level in the plane in which the pendulum swings will cause a greater error than the same change of level at right angles thereto. For this reason it is desirable to permit a greater relative motion between plate 12 and opening 8 before they can become engaged by the vertical motion of the scale beam to occur in a direction at right angles to the plane in which the pendulum of the scale swings than in direction at right angles thereto. This can be accomplished readily by making the opening 8 in plate 7 elliptical in shape with its shortest dimensionparallel to the plane of the pendulums swing, as illustrated in Fig. 4, or plate 12 may be made elliptical in the opposite direction.

An alternative form of construction is illustrated in Fig. 6, where the relative position of the engaging plate 12 and annular engaging plate 7 is reversed, the former be ing attached to the weighted member 2 and the latter to the scale beam 10 of the scale 1. The action'ot thedevice will be identical, however, with the construction already described.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiments of my invention herein disclosed are well calculated to adequately fulfil the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that my invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the Subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a scale having movable operating parts, oi a device arranged adjacent said parts and adapted to engage therewith to restrain said parts against movement when the scale is out of level.

2. In a weighing scale, the combination ot a platform, means for determining the weight of an article placed .on the pla form, and means adapted to engage and restrain the action of the weight-determining means when the scale is out of level.

3. In a weighing scale, the combination of a platform, means for offsetting the weight of an article placed on the platform, and locking means adapted to engage and restrain the action of the weight-offsetting means when the scale is out of level.

"1. In a weighing scale, a, platform, a lever connected with the platform and, adapted to move when a weight is placed upon the platform, and means adapted to engage and restrain the movement of said lever when the scale is out of level. 3 A

5. The combination with a weighing scale, of a weighted member pivotally supported by the frame ofsaid scale to stand normally vertical and adapted to.engage and prevent motion of the operative parts of the scale upon a change from the relative normal position of the scale frame and said member.

6. The combination with a weighing scale having a frame, of a weighted member pivotally supported thereon to stand normally vertical, and locking means attached to said weighted member and adapted to engage and prevent motion of the operative parts of said scale when said scale frame is moved from a level position more than a predetermined amount.

7. The combination with a weighing scale having a frame, of a weighted member pivotally supported by said scale frame to stand normally vertical, and male and female inter-changing locking members, one attached to said weighing scale and the other to said weighted member.

8. The combination with a weighing scale having a frame, of a wei hted member pivotally supported by said rame to stand normally vertical, male and female locking members, one attached to said Weighing scale and the other attached to said Weighted member, and arranged to engage one another upon a deviation from level of said scale frame.

9. The combination with a Weighing scale having a frame, of a weighted member pivotally supported by said rame to stand normally vertical, male and female locking members, one attached to said Weighing scale and the other attached to said weighted member, and-arranged to engage one an other upon a deviation from level of said scale-frame of more than a predetermined amount.

10. The combination with a weighing scale having a frame, of a weighted member mounted upon the frame so as to swing freely in all vertical planes, male and female looking members, one attached to said weighing scale and the'other to said weighted member, and arranged to engage one another upon a deviation from level of said scale of an amount greater in one direction than in a direction atright angles thereto.

11. In a weighing scale having a frame,

, a platform,operative parts arranged to be moved when acommodity is placed upon the platform, and locking -means pivotally mounted upon said frame for restraining the movement of said operative parts when the scale is out of level beyond a predetermined degree.

12. In a weighing scale having a frame, a platform, operative parts arranged to be moved when a commodity is placed upon the platform, and locking means pivotally mounted upon said frame for restraining the movement of said operative parts when the scale is out of level beyond a predetermined degree, said locking means comprising a member extending into proximity to the operating parts and adapted to engage, therewlth.

13. In a locking device, a frame, a machine part movable in a definite path with respect to said frame, a locking member for said part supported by said frame, and gravity-controlled means for moving said member into locking position or unlocking position as said frame is tilted.

14. In a locking device, a frame, a looking member connected to said frame for reciprocatory movement, a locking member connected to said frame for universal move ment transverse to the movement of the first said locking member, and gravity-controlled EDWVARD G. THOMAS;

Witnesses:

F. A. CROWLEY, GEORGE R. FRYE. 

